Automatic guide device for sewing machine or machine for assembling two or more superposed elements

ABSTRACT

The disclosure is of a device permitting the automatic guidance of two or more workpiece elements with different edge profiles being passed through and joined together in a sewing or welding machine, the device comprising two or more lateral guide plate and one or more intermediate plates disposed between an upper plate and a base piece.

1111mm States Patent 11 1 1111 si nmnssv Hei1e1r e11 a1. 1 1 J1me 41, 1974 [5 AUTUMATHC GUIDE DEVICE FOR SEWING 118,109 8//1871 Cohen et a1. 112/136 2,711,704 6 1955 Maczugu et a1 112/153 2,879,875 3/1959 Swackhamer 112/121.15 3,028,822 4/1962 Hollister et a1. 112/153 SUPERPOSED ELEMENTS 3,054,367 9/1962 Loiselle t 112/152 Inventors: -g g soufflenheim; 3,401,658 9/1968 Kirby Rum) Mun", Sessenheim; FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Jean-Jacques Becker, Bischheim, all 1 of France 3,495 12/1871 Great Britain 112/153 [73] Assignee: Vestra-Union S.A., Paris, France Primary 801m [22] Ffl d; M g 1972 Assistant ExaminerPeter Nerbun [21 l A I N 254 753 Attorney, Agent, or FirmY0ung & Thompson [57 ASS'KRAQT [52] 11.3. C1. 112/153 1 I [51 1 1111. C1 DOSb 35/10 The dsclosure of a dev'ce permmmg the automanc 5s F1e1d 111 Search 112/136k153 guidance of Or workpiele elements with 112/50 52 257 260 12124 ferent edge profiles being passed through and joined together in a sewing or welding machine, the device [56] References Cited comprising two or more lateral guide plate and one or 1 more intermediate plates disposed between an upper UNlTED STATES PATENTS plate and a base piece R2,163 1/1866 Barnum 112/150 116.056 6/1871 Howard 112/153 1 C1aim, 2 Drawing Figures AUTOMATIC GUIDE DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINE OR MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING TWO OR MORE SUPERPOSED ELEMENTS INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is an improvement in or modification of the invention disclosed in our earlier application Ser. No. 242,619, filed Apr. 10, 1972, which relates to a guide device which, on being mounted upon a sewing machine or upon any other machine in which a web or sheet material passes under a tool, permits an auto' matic following of the profile of the cut edge of the material passing through the machine without external guidance of the material to be worked.

For this purpose the device disclosed in the said earlier Specification is constituted by an upper plate and a base plate and a lateral guide piece equipped with a lug serving for the fixing of the device to the machine, this lateral guide piece being fixed between the two plates namely the upper plate and the base plate.

This device, which can be used equally well for the joining of two or more superposed elements having similar edge profiles, is however not convenient in a case where these elements have edge profiles differing one from another.

For the joining edge to edge of two elements of nonidentical curves recourse is generally made to a manual operation and to the fixing of the two edges by sharp pointed folds.

In order to mitigate these disadvantages and to reduce the time necessary for such work, and moreover improve the quality, the present invention has as one object to provide a guide device which allows the joining of two or more elements, of textile fabric or analogous sheet material, presenting edge profiles which are not similar.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In conformity with the present invention the device primarily comprises an upper plate and an intermediate plate and a base piece, these upper and base pieces each being separated respectively from the intermediate plate by a'lateral guide piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS IN THE DRAWING The following description relates to a form of embodiment of the device which is the subject of the present invention given by way of non-limitative example and described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a view in elevation of the device according to the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Thus, as represented in the drawing, the guide device is constituted by an upper plate 1, preferably transparent, a lateral guide piece 2, an intermediate plate 3, a lateral guide piece 4, identical with the plate 2, and a base piece 5, all these components being joined together by means of screws or rivets 7 or analogous fastening elements.

The device is fixed in proximity with the lateral face of the presser foot of the sewing machine, for example, and for this purpose may comprise either a fixing lug or holes to allow fixing.

The plates 1 and 3 and 5, which can be of a size adapted to the workpiece elements to be joined, are adapted in their portions situated near to the presser foot or to the tool in a manner such that their extent may be equal to that of the lateral guide pieces 2 and 4.

These lateral guide pieces, of which the thickness is variable as a function of that of the workpiece elements, have identical profiles of curvature.

With a view to facilitating the introduction of the workpiece elements to be joined between the upper plate and the intermediate plate on the one hand, and on the other hand between the base plate and the inter mediate plate, the upper plate I comprises on its entry edge a rounding or chamfer 1i and the base piece 5 comprises a margin 51 bent down towards the machine plate 6.

When applied to a sewing machine the device which is the subject of the invention functions in the following manner:

By the influence of the transportation of the work piece material, which is effected upon the longitudinal edge of the first thickness of the cut material, there is produced a lateral movement of the material against the first lateral guide piece 2, this. by reason of the retardation resulting from the friction of the edge opposed to the stitching.

The same operation occurs for "the second thickness of textile fabric which is separated from the first by the intermediate plate 3.

The upper plate 1 and likewise the intermediate plate 3 oppose an upward escape or folding of the two thicknesses of material to be joined. Due to this, the textile fabrics are guided of necessity and in accordance with the edge profiles below the presser foot.

As with the device disclosed in the said earlier application, the elements of textile fabric, especially of large dimensions, may glide upon a cushion of air obtained by means of piercings or openings in the plate of the machine and connected to a source of compressed air (not shown).

According to a further feature of the invention it is provided that one of the lateral guide pieces 2 or 4 may be displaceable perpendicularly to the direction of stitching by means of any suitable mechanical or hydraulic or pneumatic arrangement (not shown).

The device which is the subject of the present invention is for application in particular to automatic machines for long stitched seams such as automatic stitchers or high frequency automatic welding machines.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for guiding a plurality of workpieces of textile fabric and the like to be joined together, comprising an upper plate, a lower plate, an intermediate plate, a lateral guide piece between said upper and intermediate plates, a lateral guide piece between said intermediate and lower plates, and means securing together said plates and guide pieces with said plates overhanging said guide pieces thereby to provide a pair of recesses for the reception of said workpieces with said intermediate plate separating said recesses, said lateral guide pieces having convex surfaces bounding one side of said recesses, said device being substantially L-shaped when viewed in a direction perpendicular to ginning at the inner corner defined by the junction of said plates, one leg of the L being comprised by said said legs and extending toward the outer corner defined plates and guide pieces, the other leg of the L being by the junction of said legs.

comprised only by said plates, said convex surfaces be- 

1. A device for guiding a plurality of workpieces of textile fabric and the like to be joined together, comprising an upper plate, a lower plate, an intermediate plate, a lateral guide piece between said upper and intermediate plates, a lateral guide piece between said intermediate and lower plates, and means securing together said plates and guide pieces with said plates overhanging said guide pieces thereby to provide a pair of recesses for the reception of said workpieces with said intermediate plate separating said recesses, said lateral guide pieces having convex surfaces bounding one side of said recesses, said device being substantially L-shaped when viewed in a direction perpendicular to said plates, one leg of the L being comprised by said plates and guide pieces, the other leg of the L being comprised only by said plates, said convex surfaces beginning at the inner corner defined by the junction of said legs and extending toward the outer corner defined by the junction of said legs. 